Christmas Photos? Really?

I'll let you in on a little secret...

my family HATES taking pictures. For a long while it was all I could do to get them to cooperate. So when the photo turns out sort of mediocre, like this one, I just sigh and say, oh, well, at least we had a group picture.

Enjoy! Next year might not work out...HA!

Photo Shoot...

We had a foal born a week or so ago...

...so Kyri and I had a little photo shoot/foal handling session. It is important to imprint the babies from the very beginning.

Kyri named her Isabella, and I tacked on an Arabian one as well, Amira.

She does what most little babies do, nibble!!

Kyri had fun with her while tried to catch a good shot.

Well, I guess I'll be back after Thanksgiving. Have a Great Turkey Day :)

Random Pix On My Camera!

There are usually a zillion pictures of a horse or two...

Sharif Najem

...yes, he's for sale...

Here is my first attempt at a new kind of bread. It has a secret ingredient...It was wonderful and oh, so chewy!!!

Also, there are a few unusual cat photos...

in various positions...

This is Theodore our latest fur ball!

Last but not least...I'm forever trying to catch the changing light and it's effects on the view from my Kitchen window. Our valley is beautiful this year and the whole panorama can't be truly captured. You'll just have to enjoy this little slice!

So, that sums up my random life!!!

Porch Addition!!!

My hubby finally found a Saturday to get the rail on my porch...

...a multifunctional rail...

So here are the "Befores"...

...and here are the "Afters",

as you can see, it also serves as a cubby to stack our wood...

Now, all I need to do is finish landscaping and plant grass!!!

Thanks, Shawn, great job!!!

What? A Trebuchet?

Shallen and his friend Cedar had free rein in the barn on Saturday...

...with permission, of course!

Needless to say, it was pretty awesome when they got it done.

Later Kelton tweaked it and got it to fire a rock about 90 ft. into the field.

I guess we're now ready for invasion:D

Husbands??? ---Part 2

Okay, so I know my guy is a workaholic...a well known fact...

but he also has a fixation...

HORSES!!!

His love affair with horses began before me...

...but quickly our family was integrated to having these creatures around.

AND...

it was always Arbaians...

Kyri soon fell in love as well...at least for a time:)

...evenings are often spent "messing" with the horses...

I guess one of the best ways to make Shawn smile is to see other kids ride...

...sometimes it's the first time...

...usually just with a lead rope around a field...

...sometimes in the cold...

...But the bottom line is he's happiest when a stallion acts like a nutcase and gives Shawn a ride for his life, that is when his smile is the biggest and the stories begin...

Here's happy trails to you, Babe...

Husband?? What does your's do?

Some men specialize, some are jacks-of-all-trades, and some fixate...

Treeplanter

--in British Columbia--

Electrician

-- for about 15 years--

Gardener

--anywhere and everywhere--

Builder

--this is one of many variations of greenhouses--

Tractor Driver

--with a tractor anything is possible--

Woodworker

--sometimes just functional, sometimes down right beautiful--

Re-modeler

--nasty work--

Lawn Man

--either they do or they don't--

Sawdust Shoveler

--this he did with finesse--

Minister

--in or out of the pulpit--

These are just to name a few...my family says the way we have family time is to get together and watch Dad work. Mostly we help here and there, but he likes to be busy gettin'er done.

Okay, next time I'll let you in on the rest of the story...What he's really into!!!

I'm Back...

I've finally gotten back from my trip to Heidi's house...

...this was only some of the many fun creations that were made...

for Heidi's surprise 40th Birthday Party.

It was really exciting trying to keep everything secret and under wraps.

Well...my sis is a suspicious woman and we barely were able to surprise her. Still, it was a success and great fun.

Great job, Mom, and Heidi, hope your year is a special one.

Kyri's Baptism

After Youth Camp's Baptism Service got cancel...

Kyri wanted to have hers with our church group.

It was a blessed time and the beam on her face was worth while...

Until later...

Things Are Green And Growing!!!

Earth is here so kind,
that just tickle her with a hoe
and she laughs with a harvest.
by Douglas William Jerrold

These were picked on May 31st. A record for Shawn and I in all our gardening years...

...I was so excited for green beans this early...

...and snow peas, too!!! Here's our secret...

Welcome to our greenhouse...if it looks funny to the eye, well... it is not an optical illusion...yes, it is crooked because it is built on a hill and well...it is JUST a greenhouse after all. And, yes, Shawn is planning to finish the rocks on the other side, eventually:)

But, come on. I'll give you a tour...

Here are some herbs I dug up from some of my friend's houses...

except that little rosemary over there, that was a birthday gift.

And what is around the corner...

...my Rose Rescue section. I found them in the roadside ditch near our property...

Okay, that's another story...

Let's go inside...

Lots of lettuce, swiss chard, beets, and beans on this side...

...and zucchini, peppers, peas and tomatoes on this side.

So as it stands now, there are things to be harvested right now, like these Mammoth Snow Peas.

I love, Love, LOVE these raw, straight from the plant...crunch!

...and these as well, Bush Beans!

(sorry, the sign says mixed romaine, which isn't even in the picture)

Then, of course, there are things yet to grow and...

and harvest, like these cucumbers...

...which have a LOT of growing...

(they WILL cover that trellis, by the way)

We decided to grow our zucchini in cages this year; they seem to love the vertical climb...I can't wait for the yummies to come...

Shawn found German Queen tomatoes at our feed and seed store...YAY---they are the one tomato I will eat...sooooo sweet! And, a greenhouse isn't complete without peppers. We put them in cages as well because, the last time we grew them in a greenhouse they were massive bushes...

Here is one of my babies...BEETS! No, I don't eat them raw, but I love them pickled.

And some more things that need to do some growing...

Potatoes and Strawberries

( excuse the self portrait:)

Farewell, 'ole greenhouse, until tomorrow, when watering and weeding are needing to be done!!!